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A man accused of assaulting a Cambridge minor hockey official at his 17-year-old son’s hockey game is an award-winning canine officer with the Guelph Police Service, his lawyer confirmed Friday.

Constable Neil Moulton, 47, of Cambridge, was arrested at 10 p.m. Feb. 10 after he allegedly grabbed a linesman in “off-ice altercation” at Preston Auditorium, according to Waterloo Regional Police.

Guelph Police say he will remain on duty, working in field support for the Neighbourhood Services Division, while a police investigation into the matter continues.

Moulton, who has served with the Guelph Police for 12 years, was released by regional police on a promise to appear in court. His first appearance is scheduled for March 28 in Kitchener.

His lawyer, Bernard Cummins, says his client “is presumed to be innocent, he is innocent and there is a reasonable explanation for how events unfolded.”

“We have multiple objective witnesses that will give and fair accurate (account) of how events unfolded at the appropriate time.”

The Cambridge Minor Hockey Association has banned Moulton from attending any game or practice where teams belonging to their group are present, according to association president John van Breda. He is also banned from attending his son’s away games.

If Moulton does appear, the association has instructed his son’s coach to bench the boy until his father leaves.

“We have done things like this about a half-dozen times,” said van Breda, who is a Waterloo Regional Police Sergeant.

He says parents often disrespect poorly-paid amateur officials.

“Would you go make $24 to get screamed at for an hour? Not many people would.”

In cases involving others who harassed officials, parents were forced to stay away from games for a set period. Afterwards, they completed a course developed by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association aimed at teaching respect and dissuading spectators from verbally or physically harassing others at games.

Since the incident allegedly involving Moulton is now the subject of a police investigation, van Breda says Moulton will only be allowed back into rinks when the investigation and related court proceedings are complete.

Moulton works as one of three canine officers for the Guelph Police. He had recently been given the “Award for Excellence in Community Service” from the organization.

In 2010, he helped organize a province-wide meet for police canine officers to train together in Guelph.